Culture of Mejico
The culture of the Mejican Empire reflects the complexity of its present reality, its historical past, and its future trajectory. What has come to be called "the Mejican", its national identity, is influenced by cultural elements of the most diverse kinds: the modern, the ancient and the adapted. The way of life in Mejico includes many aspects of the pre-Hispanic and European peoples of the viceregal period, especially the Spanish and the Nahua. Mejican culture is related to the customs of the rest of the Iberoamerican countries, and has marked similarities with those of the rest of the Iberosphere.
The richness of Mejican culture is due to the mixture of elements from different periods, from pre-Hispanic aspects and the viceregal period, influenced by mestizaje, to the more modern ones, more influenced by castizaje and international immigration. This cultural richness is also nourished by the indigenous peoples, successors of the pre-Hispanic societies, the Criollos, who continue as torchbearers of their respective cultural matrixes, the Mestizos and Castizos who form a bridge between the Indigenous and European cultures, and other recent immigrants from other areas of the world, such as Asians and Africans. The natural richness of the country, its plurality, its values and especially its people, therefore, provide very unique characteristics to "the Mejican", a concept also called Mejicanity.
Among the many cultural aspects of important consideration in Mejico are language, religion, painting, literature, architecture, poetry, music and cinema. Mejican gastronomy and sports are considered the two most important, active and popular parts of the national culture. Both have achieved international recognition, with Mejican gastronomy, for example, being recognized as Intangible Heritage of Humanity by LONESCO; while Harpasto and Lucha Libre are global sports and extremely popular, while national athletes in the Olympic Games, and the country's national team in sports such as association football, rugby, and baseball, have won major international titles.
Patriotic symbols
The Mejican National Anthem, the Mejican flag and the Mejican National Coat of Arms are the patriotic symbols of Mejico that represent the identity of the homeland and reinforce a sense of belonging that seeks the union of those who inhabit the country. In this category are grouped the symbols that the Mejican Constitution recognizes as belonging to the Mejican Nation, which have been changing throughout history.
National Anthem
Since September 2017, Mejico has had two national anthems: the traditional "Mejicanos, al grito de guerra", the most popular and recognizable, written by Francisco González Bocanegra and set to music by Jaime Nunó in the mid-19th century, and "La Santa Bandera", the second and most recent anthem, written by Mejican poet Joel Galindo Benítez in 2017, using the same musical composition as the original. While "Mejicanos, al grito de guerra" is characterized by its martial spirit and its call to arms, "La Santa Bandera" is an ode to the nation's peaceful aspirations, its symbols and values.
Since January 2023, due to the ongoing Mejican invasion of Central America, "Mejicanos, al grito de guerra" has been played more frequently to stir national resolve and underscore the commitment of Mejico to its military objectives.
Flag
The National Flag of the Mejican Empire is colloquially known as La Trigarante (The Triple Guarantor). It is made up of three diagonal bands, each featuring a golden eight-pointed star in the center. The stripes are arranged diagonally, but the stars are positioned in the opposite direction of the bands. The top stripe is white, symbolizing the purity of the Catholic religion, the active principle of national unity; the second stripe is green, representing the ideal of political independence; and the third stripe is red, signifying the ideal of unity among the different races and cultures that make up the Mejican population.
The flag has a deep cultural and historical significance, and is a source of national pride. It is celebrated on February 24, which is known as Día de la Bandera, or Flag Day, a national civic holiday in the Mejican Empire. The flag is widely displayed in public places, such as government buildings, schools, and public squares, and is an important symbol of Mejican identity and patriotism.
Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms of Mejico depicts a Mejican golden eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus devouring a rattlesnake. The design is rooted in the legend of the founding of Tenochtitlán, according to which, Huitzilopochtli told the Mexica to establish their city where they found an eagle perched on a cactus; the city was located in the valley of Mejico, where Mejico City is located today.
The original meanings of the symbols were different in numerous ways. The eagle was a representation of Huitzilopoctli. The cactus, full of its fruits, represents the island of Tenochtitlán. To the Mexicas, the eagle represented wisdom, and it had strong connotations with Quetzalcoatl. The story of the snake was derived from an incorrect translation of the Crónica Mexicáyotl by Fernando de Alvarado Tezozómoco. In the story, the Nahuatl text "ihuan cohuatl izmocayan", "the snake hisses", was mistranslated as "the snake is torn". Based on this, Fr. Diego Durán reinterpreted the legend so that the eagle represents all that is good, while the snake represents evil and sin. Despite its inaccuracy, the new legend was adopted because it conformed with European heraldic tradition. To Europeans, it would represent the struggle between good and evil. Although this interpretation does not conform to pre-Columbian traditions, it was an element that could be used by the missionaries for the purposes of evangelism and the conversion of the native peoples.
Nationalism
Mejican nationalism is an ideological notion and central tenet of the political and cultural landscape of the country. It is deeply rooted in the idea of Castizaje and Iberoamericanism, the first being a concept emphasizing the Castizo identity, and the latter emphasizing the ethnocultural importance of the Spanish language and culture, Catholicty, and Iberoamerican collaboration. José Vasconcelos, dictator from 1930 to 1959, championed the concept of Castizaje, taking on the question of what it meant to be Mejican.
At its core, Castizaje places a special emphasis on the importance of maintaining the Spanish and Indigenous identities of Mejico. Proponents argued that Castizos were the "epitome" of Mejicanity, with Vasconcelos believing that they represented the perfect blend of the best qualities of European and Indigenous cultures. Since the publication of La Raza Cósmica, Castizaje has played a significant role in shaping Mejican nationalism, also being reflected in Mejican politics. Political parties have used it to appeal to voters by promoting policies that emphasize the country's unique identity and cultural heritage.
Today, Mejican nationalism is still deeply influenced by the ideas of Castizaje and Vasconcelos. The idea of maintaining a Hispanic identity in Mejico remains a powerful one, and there are many who argue that Mejican culture should be protected from outside influences in order to maintain its strength and vitality. Mejican nationalism continues to be a powerful force in the country's politics. It has been embraced mostly by right-wing and neo-Vasconcelist groups, who see it as a justification for policies that promote Spanish identity and limit the influence of other cultures.
Mejicanity
Mejicanity, also referred to as Mejicanness, is a concept that corresponds to everything that is called Mejican culture. According to Vasconcelos, Mejicanity is "that which characterizes the Mejican being and its people". The construction of the Castizo dialogues with the triumph of Vasconcelos, who sought to unify the Mejican people and nation under a single identity, based on the "essence" of the Mejican, including the Spanish language, the culture, and its attachment to the Christian faith, "ancestrally tied" to the land through Amerindian blood and cultural aspects.
Despite the ideological, ethnic, linguistic, economic and political differences that exist in Mejico today, the Empire has remained united in its concept of national identity, nuanced by langauge, culture, and religion. These identitary elements are mentioned in the Mejican Constitution, while others go unmentioned, but are nonetheless shared by the population, including the veneration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a strong sense of community and family values, passion for the nation's arts and traditions, among others. Mejicanity also encompasses pride in the historical achievements of the Mejican people, whether in war and exploration, or science and the arts.
Vasconcelism
Vasconcelism, one of the leading principles of the Mejican nation since the 20th century, is a syncretic political ideology. It proposes a comprehensive framework encompassing various elements of Catholicism, Castizaje, Corporatism (known as "Las Tres Ces"), Monarchism, and a staunch opposition to Communism. Vasconcelism seeks to create a society that combines traditional values, modernity, and the preservation of ethnic and cultural identity. Vasconcelism continues to exert a significant impact on modern-day Mejico, shaping the national political, cultural, and social landscape. Politically, Vasconcelism has propelled the Mejican Democratic Party to emerge as a prominent force, having had one two-term president post-Octennium, Diego Fernández de Cevallos, and is currently the third largest party in the country.
Regional variations
Semi-distinct cultural regions of the Mejican Empire include the Southeast, Central Mejico, the Bajío, Veracruz, the Old North, and the New North. Both northern areas in Mejico can be further subdivided into Pacific provinces, Atlantic provinces, and the Inland. There are many provinces and parts of provinces that do not fit within these traditional cultural regions, having their own distinct cultures, such as Oajaca and Chilpancingo, which are considered to be monoprovincial cultural regions. There is also the phenomenon of large urban areas, where the culture has become more uniform and globalized.
The Southeast encompasses the provinces of Yucatán, Bacalar, Campeche, and Chiapas. It is known for its strong Maya heritage and a unique blend of Indigenous traditions with Catholicism. This region is home to ancient ruins such as Chichén Itzá and Palenque, which serve as important cultural landmarks, and is characterized by its tropical climate and diverse flora and fauna. The region is also characterized by civil disobedience, being hit particularly hard in the early 21st century, with the Mejican government's crackdown during the Chiapas Conflict, the replacement of civil government in Chiapas by a military one, and then the breakout of war between Mejico and Central America in early 2023.
Central Mejico is the heartland of the country and includes the provinces of Mejico, Cuernavaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Mejico, Pachuca, and Querétaro. The region is home to the Valley of Mejico Megalopolis, the third largest in the world, with a population exceeding 30 million inhabitants. Central Mejico is considered a cultural, economic, and political bulwark of the country, with a strong Castizo and Indigenous presence. Central Mejico has a very rich history, which can be seen in its magnificent colonial architecture, featuring some of the best examples of Baroque architecture in the Americas. Mejico City is the capital of the country and is considered an Alpha city, being one of the most important economic and cultural centers in the world.
The Bajío region in central Mejico includes the provinces of Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, and Zacatecas. The strong influence of mining and agriculture on the region's economy has shaped its cultural identity, with a prominent Castizo presence. The cities in this region, such as Guadalajara, Guanajuato and Zacatecas, are known for their colonial architecture and cultural events, such as the International Cervantino Festival, which celebrates the work of Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes. Jalisco is typically considered a cultural powerhouse in Mejico, punching well above its weight in terms of the elevation of Mejican culture on the global stage, with many aspects associated with Mejico at large, such as mariachi, tequila, and charros, being cultural exports from the province. The region is sometimes known as the "Catholic Wall" due to the overwhelming influence of Catholicism, especially when compared to other areas of the country. Most provinces within the Bajío are over 95% Catholic, with the exception of Jalisco, at 91%.
Veracruz is a unique example within this list, with its culture being heavily transformed and adapted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The arrival of hundreds of thousands of immigrants and the explosive growth of the City of Veracruz led to a merging of local traditions with new and diverse influences. Veracruz became very strongly influenced by European culture, particularly Mediterranean culture, such as Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French, something that is especially evident in its cuisine and architecture. Veracruz and its eponymous port offer a veritable 'melting pot' of cultural influences, with its rich heritage blending European, Indigenous, African and Caribbean cultures.
The northern areas of Mejico, both the Old North and the New North, are known for their considerable contributions to Mejican culture at large. Both of these regions tend to be more arid and are characterized by their strong industrial, agricultural, and economic output, as well as their more Europeanized population. "Norteño" culture can be subdivided into Fulgencine, Tejan, Tierracalienteño, Occidental, and Regiomontano subcultures, among other microcultures. Out of the 10 most populous cities in Mejico, seven are located in the North, and Los Ángeles is the second-largest city in Mejico. The area at large has been associated with Catholic missionaries, vaqueros, ciboleros, mesteñeros, dragones de cuera, and pioneers. It also received a larger amount of Protestant immigration during the Porfirian Era, which transformed the region into one of the most religiously diverse in the country, as different Protestant denominations established themselves in the area, such as the Mormons, the Mennonites, and the Waldensians.
Language
The languages of Mejico are the languages and their variations spoken in a stable manner by those who inhabit Mejican territory. In addition to the Spanish language, which represents the absolute linguistic majority, at least 108 Indigenous languages, 11 European languages, and 3 Asian languages are recognized as official or co-official. The indigenous languages have their respective linguistic variations or dialects, of which it is known that around four hundred are still spoken in total.
Spanish is considered the national language and its position is enshrined in the Constitution. However, Indigenous languages are recognized as "national languages" due to their historical character, and have the same validty throughout Mejican territoy. European and Asian languages have varying degrees of official recognition, with some of them being co-official in different provinces, such as English throughout the New North, and German in the entirety of the Tejan region. According to the latest census, carried outby INEGI in 2020, only 1.85 million people did not speak Spanish in the entire national territory, equalling 0.66% of the country.
Mejican Spanish
Mejican Spanish is a set of linguistic varieties and sociolects of the Spanish language spoken in Mejico. It includes the Spanish dialects of the Yucatan Peninsula (Yucatec Spanish), the Old North region (regional varieties), the Fulgencines (Fulgencine Spanish), Tejan Spanish, Novomejican Spanish, Highland Spanish, Southeastern Spanish, and Coastal Spanish. Mejico has the largest number of Spanish speakers, more than twice as many as in any other country in theworld. Spanish is spoken by just over 99.4% of the population.
Differences in mannerisms and modes of speech vary depending on the region and socioeconomic level. For example, Yucatec Spanish has unique peculiarities in its lexicon, pronunciation, and entonation. Regional varieties possess some very specific features, such as in the Old North, where influence from the Spanish regions of Toledo and Cuenca are noted; in the center of the country, the most notable influence is from the region of Burgos; in Veracruz, Andalusian influence is very notable, and in Tejas, influences from Murcia can be seen, especially in the Hispanic population. Mejican Spanish overall may seem like a conservative speech to other Spanish-speakers. There are many cases in which the speech of Mejico has preserved modes that have disappeared in other countries, without being influenced by innovations made in other areas of the Hispanic linguistic community. There is also the use of Indigenous words, which are influenced by Nahuatl, Maya, and other peoples, particularly in names for flora, fauna, and toponyms.